Squirrel.windows: [USER] I don't want crap in AppData

[FallenAvatar]

I'm not just a user, but a Dev. I have enough crap on my C:, and I don't need any old app that uses this framework installing itself (WITHOUT PERMISSION) in my AppData.

How are you planning on supporting users like me?

[anaisbetts]

ohai, Squirrel doesn't install things without your permission, only when you explicitly click on a Setup.exe file.

It sounds like you're worried about disk space, and the good news is, every Squirrel app is completely portable, you can move it wherever you want, then mklink it in:

robocopy /MIR %LocalAppData%\Atom  E:\SquirrelApps\Atom  ## Or whatever
rmdir /S %LocalAppData%\Atom
mklink /D %LocalAppData%\Atom E:\SquirrelApps\Atom

Bingo bango, your app isn't on C: and you still get updates and everything works great

[FallenAvatar]

Every "Installer" for windows provides several chances to abort (at any point along the line.) So, "You opened the file, you obviously gave your permission" isn't really an answer.

About your mklink "solution" you

1) Forgot to include that that solution only works when you open the command prompt in admin mode.
2) Failed to make me want to use anything that uses your library.

Unfortunately, for me (and others), I (we) have no way of knowing if an app uses your library unles we do some digging. As far as I'm concerned your library does nothing more than allow app devs to "hoodwink" users (compared to what they are used to) to allow apps (or malware) to be installed and run on startup.

[anaisbetts]

Unfortunately Squirrel will never change this behavior. Sorry!

[FallenAvatar]

So you understand that you are breaking "standards" that Windows Users as used to (and expect) and what? Can't be held responsible for abuse?

[BarryThePenguin]

If developers can build an app using Squirrel, they could provide a 'portable' version too. That portable version can be included in any directory on any drive.

[FallenAvatar]

@BarryThePenguin And how does that help/protect users in any way?

[anaisbetts]

@tjmonk15 I'm not super interested in debating this. Squirrel works the way it does. I'm sorry that it doesn't match up with your expectations. When you run a Squirrel Installer, its _sole_ goal is to open the app the user asked to install, as soon as possible.

Opening the app as soon as possible is literally the _only_ thing a Squirrel installer will ever ever do. No dialogs, no questions.

The good news is, uninstalling Squirrel apps is just as fast, and just as easy!

[FallenAvatar]

@paulcbetts So you want Squirrel to be an app launcher and not an installer?

[gsn1074]

Squirrel is garbage; I hope postman stops using it. Allowing choice of install directory is something literally every other installer does.

[bddckr]

If you have an issue with specific software talk to the creator of that software. Don't try to make the maintainers of the tooling that software uses to change something. That won't even end up in the software you have issues with anyway as it means that creator needs to update it first.

@shiftkey Seems like this is a perfect issue to lock.